Belco must replace 7,500 meters just one year after they were installed after a merger meant the computer chips were obsolete.

However, the company said the manufacturer ? not Belco nor its customers ? will be paying for the replacements.

Belco spokeswoman Susan McGrath-Smith said: ?The company from which Belco originally purchased the meters, Schlumberger, was acquired by another company, Itron.

?Following the merger, Itron/Schlumberger was required to license a different computer chip for use overseas; the chip makes remote meter reading possible.?

In order to have properly licensed meters in Bermuda, Belco must install new meters with the correct chip.

?This has nothing to do with the accuracy of the meters,? Ms McGrath-Smith added.

She said Belco crews were being augmented with workers paid for by Itron/Schlumberger.

?Itron/Schlumberger is paying for the replacements,? she said.

Belco said its workers would carry ID and make themselves known when arriving on a property for the replacement work which will take 15 minutes and briefly interrupt the electricity supply.

The replacement meters are for ones installed in 2004 and, because of the scale of the work, Belco cannot provide an accurate work schedule in advance.